MARS Mods

[ArloG]

Mars, not too sure about. Try contacting the Enterprise though. I hear they go around uranus wiping out Klingons.

 

[merlin]

For those seriously interested, a factory reset is required after clipping the components.

Not all, none of the Kenwoods I moded needed a factory reset. Maybe some scanners unblocking the cell bands need restetting.

 

[bill4long]

Not all, none of the Kenwoods I moded needed a factory reset. Maybe some scanners unblocking the cell bands need restetting.

Referring to his 7300, as can be seen by what I quoted.

 

[SigIntel8600]

I realize this is a goof thread, but the one and only MARS mod I ever did was on my Alinco DX-SR9T. Never used a soldering iron before but the mod looked pretty easy. No de-soldering micro components. The mod involved adding a solder blob in between two pads then a reset. I figured I was going to turn my rig into a paper weight, but I dripped a nice blob of solder between the pads, let it cool, did a full reset and I was shocked to see that it worked and still works some 7 years later.

 

[bill4long]

I realize this is a goof thread, but the one and only MARS mod I ever did was on my Alinco DX-SR9T. Never used a soldering iron before but the mod looked pretty easy. No de-soldering micro components. The mod involved adding a solder blob in between two pads then a reset. I figured I was going to turn my rig into a paper weight, but I dripped a nice blob of solder between the pads, let it cool, did a full reset and I was shocked to see that it worked and still works some 7 years later.

Why shocked? It's no different than turning on a light switch.

 

[KD7RJC]

I realize this is a goof thread, but the one and only MARS mod I ever did was on my Alinco DX-SR9T. Never used a soldering iron before but the mod looked pretty easy. No de-soldering micro components. The mod involved adding a solder blob in between two pads then a reset. I figured I was going to turn my rig into a paper weight, but I dripped a nice blob of solder between the pads, let it cool, did a full reset and I was shocked to see that it worked and still works some 7 years later.

Heh. My DJ-195 was a, "remove the battery, remove a thin plastic cover, cut the green wire, hold down <key combination> to trigger a reset," process. The green wire was long enough that realistically I could have installed a switch on it rather than simply cutting if I'd really had a mind to.

 

[k3jls]

I have performed the MARS Mod to some of my radios and still cannot for the life of me figure out what I did wrong. I have been working on this for a month and it has been driving me batty, well more so than normal.

On my Icom IC-7300 I removed both D422 and D416 as directed but no joy.

On my Icom IC-705 I removed the two diodes on the board (after quite a bit of disassembly!) and still no joy.

I also removed several other diodes on the 7300 and 705 to see if perhaps the websites listed the wrong ones but got a few weird display artifacts on both radios and on the 7300 some odd burning smell coming from the radio when I transmit. Eventually the 7300 stopped working altogether, it will no longer power on, the 705 seems to receive and transmit but with the weird screen display.

So I went out and bought another 7300 and another 705 to see if perhaps I hit the bad board lottery and got 2 defective radios. I needed to replace the 7300 anyway as my original does not work any longer and Icom won’t repair it. I did the same modifications to the new radios and now the new 705 won’t even turn on, the new 7300 works as before the mod but the MARS mod doesn’t seem to work.

So next I tried firmware versions. Of the 2 remaining (semi) functional radios I was able to update the firmware on the 705 but not the 7300. Still no joy however.

I am now starting to suspect that perhaps it is my antenna system. I have several different antennas available, but none seem to do the trick.

Can anyone please explain exactly how I am supposed to be able to contact Mars? It appears the mods do not seem to work as advertised? The only response I have been able to get is April Fools, and that came from some guy on Venus.

I modded my IC-7300 (before I sold it) and had no problems whatsoever - also my I C-703, FT-450D - etc. You just have to be careful

 

[prcguy]

I modded my IC-7300 (before I sold it) and had no problems whatsoever - also my I C-703, FT-450D - etc. You just have to be careful

Yup, careful and have a blown up picture of the mod instructions and magnifying glass or loops when doing the mod. I've done a few 7300s and I remember them being fairly easy where the 705 is labor intensive and microscopic. But with care and clear instructions its all good.

 

[KF0NYL]

I can't help the OP.

I know that you do have to do a factory reset on Icom, Yaesu and Xiegu radios after making the mods to them.

 

[ratboy]

I realize this is a goof thread, but the one and only MARS mod I ever did was on my Alinco DX-SR9T. Never used a soldering iron before but the mod looked pretty easy. No de-soldering micro components. The mod involved adding a solder blob in between two pads then a reset. I figured I was going to turn my rig into a paper weight, but I dripped a nice blob of solder between the pads, let it cool, did a full reset and I was shocked to see that it worked and still works some 7 years later.

Hey, you did better than a lot of people who tried to mod a radio! I wish I had pics of some of the butchery I've seen and at least tried to fix over the last 40 years.